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New Pentagon Channel Series Debut Features Medal of Honor Recipient

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2007  The Pentagon Channel tomorrow will debut a new program, “Icon,” which takes an in-depth look at iconic figures in the U.S. military and Defense Department.

The first Icon program will feature retired Army Lt. Col. Bruce P. Crandall, who is receiving the Medal of Honor today at the White House for his actions in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam in November 1965. During the fight, which was the first major ground battle of the war, Crandall, then a major and commander of Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), dodged intense enemy fire as he repeatedly flew to a landing zone to rescue and resupply besieged 1st Cavalry Division ground troops.

Several books about the battle recognize Crandall’s contributions. Among the most well-known is the bestselling “We Were Soldiers Once … and Young,” co-written by Lt. Gen. Harold Moore, commanding officer of infantry units in Landing Zone X-Ray near the Ia Drang River, and Joseph Galloway, a combat reporter who was in the landing zone during the battle. A major motion picture based on the book featured actor Greg Kinnear as Crandall.

Icon will be featured on the Pentagon Channel as distinctive individuals arise for whom more information and a more in-depth look are needed. From Medal of Honor recipients to top leaders on today's battlefield, Icon aims to bring the audience more information about these compelling individuals. In the future, the Pentagon Channel looks to add an interactive Web component to Icon to further enhance the audience experience, officials said.

The inaugural Icon episode will air at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time tomorrow.